Coating apparatus



N ov. 27, 1951 H. A. TOULMIN, JR., ET AL 2,576,319

COATING APPARATUS original Filed kMarch 22, 1948 INVENTORS JOSEPH E. BERMAN ma fm ATTORNEYS HARRY AQ TOULMIN JR.`

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 ooAfrrNG APPARATUS Harry A. Toulmin, Jr., and JosephE. Berman, Dayton, Ohio, assignors' to Industrial Metal Protectives, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware .Original applications'March 22, 1948, Serial No. 16,348, and June 15, 1950, Serial N0. 168,352. Divided and this application January 27,v 19,51,

Serial No. 208,142

4 claims.

, The present invention relates to chains andy is concerned primarily With a chain made up'of links'whichhave been treated With a protective coatingbut more especially to a coating apparatus and method for applying and setting the coating. y

This application is a division of applicationsv Serial No. 16,348, filed March 22, 1948, Serial No. 168,352,fi1ed.1une 15, 195o. f

The ordinary conventional chainWhich-is made up of a plurality of metallic links is subjected to a wide variety of conditions of service usage. Under many of ,these conditions, the chain is open to attack by the corrosive action of the elements to which it is exposed. Such yattack has heretofore materially impaired the service life of the chain. Moreover, when a chain isV in any Way manipulated, the 'interlocking links rub against each other with a frictional action which creates Wear.

Withv the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has a view as its foremost objective the provision of a coating apparatus for a chain made up of a kplurality of interlocking links, with means for subjecting the chain toa protective coating which not only protects the metallic links from corrosive. attack, butwhich also serves asa lubricant to resist friction and wear between the interlocking links.

In the. application of Alexander McDonald,

Serial No. 709,770, l'ed Novemberfll, 194,6, now U. S. Patent No. 2,509,875, and entitled Improvements in and Relating to Coating Compositions,r

there is disclosed 'a coating composition which consists essentially of Yiinely comminuted zinc suspended in sodium silicate.` Such a composition is `susceptible of being applied tothe'links of a chain, and after application being set by heating. L

Accordingly, la further objective oftheinvention the provision of a chain consisting 'of metallic interlocking links which have been coated with a protective composition of nely divided zinc suspended 'in sodium silicate, in accordance with theteachings of theabove identified patent application. f

In providing a protective coating for thelinks of the chain, in accordance With noted objectives,`it is necessary to be sure that each linkis completely 'coated with the composition as any bare spots would be highly undesirable. Accordingly, afurther objective of the invention is the provision of apparatus WhichA may be employedf to completely coat each link. j

A stillf more detailed objective is the provision f of apparatus which vvill'coat the links of a chain with a protective composition by a continuousoperation. These ends are achieved by providing apparatus'which includes as an essentialelement a tank or vat containing an adequate supply of the coating composition. The chain is immersed in the composition and the immersed portionA is oscillated so as to loosen the interlocks and make sure that the entire surface of each link is fully covered. After immersing from the vat the chain is passed through certaindrying units which function to set the coating.

They apparatus includes means for continuously immersing the links of a chain in a bath of coatingV composition and in oscillating the chain ,links AWhile so immersed to adequately loosen the.

interlocks.

After being immersed for a prescribed period of time, the chain is Withdrawn and passed through a drying unit which sets the coating composition. v

Various other and more detailed objectives and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas. in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated.

` The invention, therefore, comprises a chain which is made up of metallic links, each of which has been fully covered with the protective coating which functions as a lubricant at the interlocks between the links. The invention also embraces apparatus for so coating the links of the chain.

=For a fullandmore complete understanding ofy the invention, reference may be had to the 'fol-'i 'lloWing description andthe accompanying drawing wherein:

'Figure `l is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation and somewhat diagrammatic of'apparatus which may be employed to coat the (links of the 'chain with a protective composition: in accordance With precepts of this invention;iA

andi' Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view tion vof achain showing certain links andV sections'. z v' Before describing the which may be employed toproduce ak coated chain in accordancewith the precepts of this invention, attention' is first called'to the exact nature ofl the coating material which is to be employed Y Suchfa' coating material'consists essentially ofja nely dividedvor comminutedymet'aLsuch as zinc,v lead, aluminum, magnesium, "cadm'iinn,l or

alloys thereof.' This 'nely' divided material is:

of a porsi apparatus and methodscombined with sodium silicate in which the ratio of sodium oxide to silica is approximately 1:2.6. This composition is essentially a suspension.

If desired, certain lead compounds may be added to'l this `basic compositionfto,incorporate desirable properties thereinto. Thus, if red lead he added, the attack of zinc by the alkali is delayed. Other lead compounds which maybe added are lead chromate, litharge and white lead. In all cases the metallic dust which is employed in the basic composition must be finely comminuted, the average particle size should ybe no` greater than three microns. This feature of the fine nature of the particles is highly important, as it is believed that many of the` desirable properties of the coating are derived from this factor. Following are given a few exam-ples of a coating material which is suitable to the method andl products of the present invention.

Superne zinc powder (particle size-r 90% not larger than 6 microns) lbs 21 f Example III Red lead grams 7 Lead chromate do 5 Zinc dust do 163 Sodium silicate having the ratio of NazO S102 of from 1:2.3 to 1z3;0 milliliters 31 Assuming that an appropriate coating material of the type above described is available, certain novel methods of producing a coated chain will now be described.

While the present invention is susceptible of being employed in conjunction with almost any type of chain, the chain shown in Figure 2 is taken as illustrative of a chain which is meeting with widespread use.

Such a chain is made up of a plurality of links L, each of the links L comprising bend portions IU and II also and between which extend straight sides I2 and I3. Itis evident that the bend portion I of one of thev links interlocks `with the bend portion of the respective adjacent link.

The entire surface of the bend portions I0 and II, as well as the straight sides I2 and I3, are covered with a coating composition I4 in a manner hereinafter to be described and thiscoating I4 may be any of the compositions above cata-- logued.

It is important to note that where the bend portions I0 and II interlock, this coating I4 functions as a lubricant to minimize wear which is created at an incident to friction between these points.

Referring now to Figure 1, one apparatus which may be employed for achieving the coat-V ing construction depicted in Figure 2 will be dcscribed. A reel I 5 is shown as pivotally mounted on a pedestal I1 that upstands from a base I8. This reel I5 carries a supply of the chain which is designated Cif or the chain supply maybeotherwise located and the;` chain -C merely7 passed overv they reel. I5 inzwhich it is evident the jecting it to an acid bath after whichv it should be washed and blasted.

A vat or tank is represented at I9, and this A tank contains a supply of the particular coating composition which is to be employed. This composition is in liquid form and is represented at ZIJ.V It may be any of the compositions above described.

The tank IS'is positioned beneath one end of a table 2| that is supported between uprights 22 and 23. A pair of guide rollers 24 and 25 are carriedl by the uprights 22 and 23 and the chain C passes between those guide rollers, and thence downwardly into the coating composition 20 inwhich it is immersed.

A pan 26 is pivotally suspended at the lower ends. of arms 21 and 28, and the latter a're in turn pivotally mounted at 29 and 30 on ears 3|v and 32 which upstand from the side of the tank. A cross bar 33 is pivotally connected at each end to the upper ends of the arms 21 and 28, as indicated at 34. A lever 35 is pivotally mounted vas shown at 36 on an ear 37 that is carried on the upper face .of table 2I. This arm is formed with an elongated slot 38 which receives a pin 39 on the cross bar 33.

Aneleotric motor is represented diagrammati-vv cally at 40 and includes a flywheel 4I which is connected by pitman 42 to the upper end of thel lever 35 as shown at 43. It is evident that when the electric motor 4I] is operated, the pitman- 42 is reciprocated and imparts an oscillating motion to the lever 35. This motion, in turn,

is transmitted through the pin andslot connecf tion 38 and 39 to the cross bar 33. This causes the arms 21 and 28 to oscillate in the manner of a pendulum and thereby oscillate the pan 26.

It is notable that the side walls of the pan-26 may include guide rollers 44 for conning the chain C withinv the pan. motiontakes place theinterlocks between the bends I0 and II of Yadjacent links L are loos-V ened thereby assuring that the entire area of these bars is coveredy by the coating composition.

The upright 23 carries a pair of spaced rollers the upper side of the table 49 in a form of rollersA 5I)v that are opposite to the rollers 4'! and heat-` ing lamps 5I. The chain C is passed between the rollers 4'I and 50 and is thereby guided. Heating fromthe banks of lamps 48 and l5I serves to setfthe'- coating which has been applied by immersion. The heat generated will be prefer-- ably about250f F., and the apparatus will be operated at such a speed tokeep each link of the chain in the heating unit for a required lengthv of time which will vary from a few minutes to one hour. Y

After leaving the heating unit the chain C passes over the reel 52 on. which it may be taken up. If desired the reel 52 may be replaced with a sheave and the chain passed on to some other place.. In any event, the reel 52, or sheave,fis pivotally mounted, as indicated at 53 on .a ped.

estal 54 which upstands from a base 55, the lat- I. teralso vcarries an electric motor 56. which in- As. the oscillating Y cludes a driving shaft carrying a sheave 51. Another pulley 58 is mounted on the reel 52 and an endless belt 59 passes over the pulleys 51 and 58 and serves to drive the reel 52 from the electric motor 56 in a well known manner. It is evident by operating the electric motor at a certain predetermined speed, the links of the chain C may be kept immersed in the coating composition 2D for a required length of time and also within the heating unit sufficiently long to assure proper setting.

While preferred specic embodiments of the invention are hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact st'eps, materials, and constructions illustrated and described, because the various modicatons of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for coating chain with a protective and lubricating composition, said apparatus comprising a vat adapted to contain a coating composition, a pan below the level of said coating composition in said vat, means for oscillating said pan in the direction of movement of said chain, and means mounted on the pan for guiding a chain into and out of said pan, said pan guiding means being located adjacent the front and rear ends thereof, said pan having an upper surface for supporting the individual links of said chain While the same is passing between the pan guiding means whereby to loosen the chain interlocks during the oscillating movements of said pan.

2. Apparatus for coating chain with a protective and lubricating composition, said apparatus comprising a vat adapted to contain a coating composition, a pan suspended in said vat below 6 porting the individual links of said chain while the same is passing between the pan guiding means whereby to loosen the chain interlocks during the oscillating movements of said pan, and means for heating the covered chain after it has emerged from said vat.

3. Apparatus for coating chain with a protective and lubricating composition, said apparatus comprising a source of supply for said chain, a vat adapted to contain a coating composition, a pan suspended in said vat beneath the level of said composition, means for oscillating said pan in the direction of movement of said chain, guide rollers carried by said pan adjacent the front and rear ends thereof and adapted to maintain said chain within said pan, a bank of heating units through which said coated chain passes after it leaves said vat, and power means for pulling said chain into said vat and through said drying units.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a vat adapted to contain a coating composition, a pair of vertically disposed arms spaced apart and pivotally mounted on said vat, a pan pivotally connected to the lower ends of said arms and located below the level of the composition in said vat, means for guiding a chain into and out of said pan, and means connected to the upper end of said arms for oscillating the same in the direction of movement of said chain whereby said pan is oscillated, said pan guiding means being located adjacent the iront and rear ends thereof, said pan having an upper surface for supporting the individual links of said chain while the same is passing between the pan guiding means whereby to loosen the chain interlocks during the oscillating movements of said pan.

HARRY A. TOULMIN, JR. JOSEPH E. BERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Clarenbach Aug. 31, 1920 Number 

